Saturday, July 19, 2014

The Boston Red Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals on Friday by the score of 5-4. The win improved the Red Sox to 44-52 on the season. Although only 24th in the Major Leagues in runs scored, the Red Sox should be adding a spark to the lineup, as veteran outfielder Shane Victorino has been activated from the disabled list.

I reported yesterday that Victorino, who has been out with a strained hamstring and a slipped disk in his back, started for Pawtucket on Thursday night,
playing right field and batting second. Victorino was expected back sometime this weekend.

An update on Victorino, as reported by Manny Randhawa of MLB.com, was that Victorino has been activated from the disabled list and is expected to bat sixth tonight when the Red Sox take on the Royals. In back-to-back rehab games, Victorino went 3-for-8 with a double and two runs scored.

The return of Victorino could be big for the Red Sox. Victorino was a key component to last season's World Series championship team. Not only did he provide an offensive spark, according to FanGraphs, he saved 23 defensive runs, fifth in the Major Leagues.

Injuries
have limited Victorino to just 21 games in his second season with the
Red Sox. this season. The 11-year veteran is batting .242 with a home
run
and 10 RBI. Last year he batted .294 with 15 home runs and
61 RBI. Victorino, a two-time World Series Champion, is a career .276
hitter with 106 home runs, 480 RBI and 224 stolen bases.